April 2020

[Testudo Man]

Yesterday, I took a "butterfly lunch break" from work (5 minute drive, self employed, so still able to work).
Quite a few species seen, these are the highlights. Images have not been cropped at all. Location - Kent, cheers Paul.
Note - We all like to see species in-cop...…………………….but I was a bit shocked/surprised to see this couple in-cop they were slightly more embarrassed than me though
Right, back to the butterflies.

Wall Brown, a 1st for this location for me, so a bit surprised to see this beauty.

Dingy Skippers were out, but maybe just 6 seen.

Grizzled Skippers too, but maybe less than 5.

Good numbers of Brimstone seen.

Speckled Wood.

[Padfield]

Note - We all like to see species in-cop...…………………….but I was a bit shocked/surprised to see this couple in-cop they were slightly more embarrassed than me though

I also bumped into a couple of Homo sapiens in cop about a week ago. I think the lockdown is keeping lovers apart so they are resorting to illicit trysts in the woods ...

Spot the hairstreak caterpillar:



That was today, in Woodbridge. He is about 14mm long now. I am following at least 4 others but I couldn't search for them because there were too many people about.

Guy

[Stevieb]

Usual 'isolation' walk this lunchtime. Numbers starting to decline now so may have to wander further afield!

Small Tortoiseshell 25th April

Male Brimstone 25th April

Female Orange-tip 25th April

Female Orange-tip 25th April

Female Green-veined White 25th April

[David M]

Spot the hairstreak caterpillar:

Not easy this, Guy. Is he just to the SE of the tip of the curled up bit just below the hole in the leaf? The rest of the leaf edge is serrated but that part looks fairly smooth.

[bugboy]

Spot the hairstreak caterpillar:

Not easy this, Guy. Is he just to the SE of the tip of the curled up bit just below the hole in the leaf? The rest of the leaf edge is serrated but that part looks fairly smooth.

You're looking to close David, he's hiding in plain sight on full view in Guys Picture, stunning camouflage . Reminds me when I found my first wild fully grown Purple Hairstreak larvae. I knew I had the right bud because I'd been following him since he was an egg, and was looking and looking until he materialised before my eyes, the bud WAS the caterpillar

[Padfield]

Spot the hairstreak caterpillar:

Not easy this, Guy. Is he just to the SE of the tip of the curled up bit just below the hole in the leaf? The rest of the leaf edge is serrated but that part looks fairly smooth.

To be honest, David, I'm not sure if you're seeing him. He's here:



Guy

EDIT: Just seen Buggy's comment. Phenomenal camouflage, isn't it!

[Jack Harrison]

Padfield:

I think the lockdown is keeping lovers apart so they are resorting to illicit trysts in the woods ...

Hmm. In my younger days (1960s) there was no need for the excuse of a lockdown to go into the woods for such activities.

Well so I am led to believe

Jack

[Matsukaze]

North-eastern Somerset

Peacock - Plenty.
Comma - Just a few; usual or slightly lower than usual numbers
Small Tortoiseshell - Very few
Red Admiral - None initially, a few in the last couple of days, possibly new migrants
Speckled Wood - Doing adequately, perhaps fairly well
Brimstone - Not uncommon but I am increasingly only finding them in woodland now
Orange-tip - Doing very well
Small White - A few about, not really getting a sense of numbers
Green-veined White - Doing well, perhaps better than usual
Large White - Doing very well
Holly Blue - Doing very well

[Essex Bertie]

photos and observation courtesy of Lindsey Cornes, who found a continental Swallowtail caterpillar last September, as it pupated on a strawberry plant in her allotment in Kelvedon, Essex (fennel and carrot present, although no obvious feeding signs). It hatched today. Although Lindsey missed the actual emergence, she found it still drying her wings - photos taken at 5pm. It stayed in the same location to roost.

[David M]

Padfield:

I think the lockdown is keeping lovers apart so they are resorting to illicit trysts in the woods ...

Hmm. In my younger days (1960s) there was no need for the excuse of a lockdown to go into the woods for such activities.

That's probably more to do with the necessity to avoid the wrath of the girl's father, Jack!

[David M]

To be honest, David, I'm not sure if you're seeing him. He's here:

I certainly wasn't seeing the whole of him, Guy; more like one sixth!

That truly is astonishing camouflage!

[David M]

photos and observation courtesy of Lindsey Cornes, who found a continental Swallowtail caterpillar last September, as it pupated on a strawberry plant in her allotment in Kelvedon, Essex (fennel and carrot present, although no obvious feeding signs). It hatched today. Although Lindsey missed the actual emergence, she found it still drying her wings - photos taken at 5pm. It stayed in the same location to roost.

What a fabulous surprise! I hope when it flies off it will bring delight to others who might see it.

[Lee Hurrell]

I'm lucky that Magdalen Hill Down in Winchester in within walking distance. I have seen Green Hairstreak, Grizzled Skipper and Dingy Skipper over the last few weeks. Also seen this week, although not by me, have been Small Copper and Painted Lady.

I saw my first Brown Argus and Small Heath of the year this afternoon, to be topped off, surprisingly, by a pair of mating Common Blue. This is around three weeks before I normally see them.

Common Blue, mating pair, Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 26th April 2020

Common Blue, male, Magdalen Hill Down, Winchester, Hampshire, 26th April 2020

[David M]

My first Small Coppers seen on 23rd April at the coastal dune site in Swansea, Crymlyn Burrows:

[Allan.W.]

3 different Large Tortoiseshell (2 photographed ) at Lydden ,Kent today . found (I believe ) by Paul Holt .
Allan.W.

[John_C]

North Ayrshire, Scotland

Peacock: very good numbers in last 2-3 weeks since 1st sighting on mar 30
Green Hairstreak: very good numbers with 60+ seen at a site on friday and 45+ seen at another site yesterday
Small Tortoiseshell: decent numbers in last 2-3 weeks since 1st sighting on mar 30
Orange Tip: still low numbers but gradually starting to increase since 1st sighting on apr 21
Green-veined White: still low numbers but gradually starting to increase since 1st sighting on apr 21
Holly Blue: very low numbers since 1st sighting on apr 13
Red Admira: only 1 sighting about 2 weeks ago
Small White: first 2 sightings yesterday

[NickHull]

Good numbers of butterflies in my garden this last week, mainly OT and HB but with plenty of Small and a few Large and GV White. Brimstone still abundant with Speckled Wood and the odd Peacock, Small Tort and Comma around too.

[David M]

3 different Large Tortoiseshell (2 photographed ) at Lydden ,Kent today...

Amazing. These sightings are gradually becoming more commonplace. Good to see.

[Allan.W.]

Lots of the images that I,m seeing( although not all ) from this welcome influx of Large Torts ,seem to be of very worn, well travelled individuals , in the Lydden (near Dover ) Kent area ,I know that there have been reports of White-letters breeding in one or two locations,
and also not a million miles away in the St.Margerets bay area , and although I don,t know the area intimately ,Elm is definitely growing thereabouts
It will be interesting to see what occurs ! Regards Allan.W.

[Allan.W.]

Saw my first Small Copper of the season today and was very pleased ……………………….but sadly not at Dungeness
although they seem to be emerging there in some numbers (according to a couple of the locals) hope to catch up with some there in later broods (fingers crossed ) just outside my exercise walk area ,travelled for about ten minutes to another spot and in around about an hour on a leisurely wandering stroll I found around ten Grizzles ,these three included.

Allan.W.